Bring home the bacon
Ross County – 43/1 on the Exchange? With Jack, Tavernier and Morelos out, it’s worth a small flutter.
While we’re at it, we’ll go for Celtic – 1 handicap away to St Johnstone. St Johnstone have really steadied up but Celtic have an attacking side out and they seem a wee bit high at 21/20.
1 point – Celtic @ 21/20
0.2 points – Ross County @ 43/1
A plethora of picks today, no huge fancies in there, but marginal value across the board.
First pick goes to Stirling at home, who are now getting the points on the board their play has merited over last few months. Elgin are one of the most unpredictable teams in the league though so that brings a bit of caution – but not enough to put us off and we take 6/4.
To complete a Tasty Treble, we go to the Championship. Arbroath can no longer be underestimated but Partick are now of the sides to follow in the league since they replaced that clown Caldwell with McCall. I’d hoped for better than 7/5 away, but it will still just about do. Lastly is Inverness away to Ayr. The jury is still our on Mark Kerrs reign at Ayr, and Inverness have a fine away record, I’d favour them as favourites today which makes the 19/10 price worth eating.
That’s your Tasty Treble folks!
To make up a 4 fold, we can add Queens Park at home. They will hope to get a bit of momentum going under new management and should see off Albion Rovers at Hampden Park.
Motherwell are the only other shorter priced pick and the rest are quite highly priced, but not to be sniffed at – they’re not all going to win, but a lot of good value in there. I’ve also thrown a rare correct score pick in there where we go for no goals in the absolute borefest that is St Johnstone v Kilmarnock. They will be handing out pillows with the match day tickets.
Pick of the outsiders are probably Hamilton at home, where we are getting better than 3/1. Not quite sure how, but they have picked up recently and Livingston are no great shakes away from home. Also after poor dear Brian Rice so unbelievably and courageously admitted to blowing the family savings on illegal bets during the week, surely his team of soldiers will rally around their incredibly brave and honourable commander as he battles this horrendous disease, so very bravely and courageously. Did I mention that he was very brave?
In summary
Tasty Treble:
2 points – Stirling Albion @ 6/4
1 point – Partick Thistle @ 7/5
1 point – Inverness @ 19/10
Other favourites:
1 point – Queens Park @ 5/6
1 point – Motherwell @ 13/10
Longer shots:
1 point – Hamilton @ 31/10
1 point – Stenhousemuir @ 3/1
1 point – Dumbarton @ 14/5
1 point – St Mirren @ 13/5
1 point – Alloa @ 9/2
0.5 points – Forfar @ 12/1
0.5 points – St Johnstone to draw 0-0 @ 7/1
Scottish Cup week! Not usually too keen on betting in cups, with winter break, transfer window and sometimes weakened teams but there are a couple of good ones in here.
First up is Clyde away against the Lowland league side Bonnyrigg Rose. Bonnyrigg are not to be sniffed at and took care of a Montrose side who are higher in the league than Clyde. However Montrose rested a number of players, and Clyde are unlikely to take them so lightly. In reality Clydes squad is so small they will have no option but to field their strongest side anyway and will include some positive new signings in Greg Wylde and Tom Lang.
Secondly, Falkirk are well priced away to Arbroath. Looking at the squads few would argue Falkirk look stronger and they are still strengthening with recent acquisition of Josh Todd. Their problem can be complacency in the turgid third tier of Scottish football but this should be a refreshing challenge so a strong performance is expected here. It will need to be, as Arbroath are a strong side especially at home but 12/5 is plenty value.
We depart the Cup to complete our Tasty Treble. Stirling are getting better each week and they are fancied away to Annan at 9/5.
A Treble as tasty as a tray of ?! Tuck in!
Elsewhere in the cup we add 3 chancers. You can get better than 4s on Alloa at home to Inverness and Dundee are just about worth a small risk of upset at 17/5. Shock of the day? Queens Park might just cause a bit if trouble against an out of sorts Killie side. After all, if a bunch of Welsh plumbers and coal miners can give them a roasting, then it’s not out with the realms of imagination that Queens Park can make an impact. At 20/1 we don’t need to wage much.
Good luck all! ?
In summary:
2 points – Clyde @ 13/10
2 points – Falkirk @ 12/5
1 point – Stirling Albion @ 9/5
0.5 points – Alloa @ 4/1
0.5 points – Dundee @ 17/5
0.2 points – Queens Park @ 20/1
With less to choose from over the winter break, (and Inverness postponed already), value it is hard to find..
However there is some to be found if we scratch deep enough. The Scottish lower leagues are all fairly tight and can be unpredictable so we are leaning on the side of the underhog.
Only one favourite that we strongly fancy – Cowdenbeath have been fairly consistent at home all season and should take care of Albion Rovers at home. In The Championship, Morton have been showing signs of life recently and it may be that David Hopkin is beginning to turn things around. The arrival of that beast McKinnon from Hamilton should help their cause and is a perfect fit down at Greenock. So we’ll take a chance on them at 13/5 at home to a very unpredictable Dunfermline side. Also in the Championship, I’m going for Alloa again. Not many teams get an easy game against Alloa and they will be desperate to beat Arbroath at home today to keep in touch. 23/10 is generous – thanks.
That’s a very Tasty Treble indeed!
A few other highly priced picks complete an attractive line up. Pick of these probably being Stirling at home to Cove Rangers. Cove are clearly one of he most dominant teams in Scotland, but they have lost a creative influence in Declan Glass, and they can throw in a bad performance every now and then. Stirling have been steadily building up form and the price of 11/2 at home is too tempting. I’ll also take a chance on Partick Thistle at home to Dundee Utd. McCall looks to be making his mark now, and Utd are mainly strolling to one goal victories – they may get a fright here. Less likely are Brechin and Queens park but they’re worth a small punt.
In summary:
2 points – Cowdenbeath @ evens
1 point – Alloa @ 23/10
1 point – Morton @ 13/5
1 point – Stirling Albion @ 11/2
0.5 points – Partick Thistle @ 23/10
0.5 points – Brechin @ 3/1
0.5 points – Queens Park @ 5/1
A few bargains to be had earlier, though these prices are disappearing as we oink. First up Raith Rovers at home to Peterhead. Even with their current injury list, evens is way too much, after all they sit top of the table and went to Methil and scored 5 last week. Hopefully they’ll have 1 or 2 back as well.
Staying in League 1, Clyde should have too much for Stranraer. Dragging Ryan Stevenson back to senior football, and a 0-0 draw against a decimated Dumbarton side does nothing to suggest that Stranraer are turning the corner.
League 2 and our old favourite Queens Park complete the Tasty Treble. It’s no surprise to see Stenhousemuir go backwards after the uninspiring appointment of Davie Irons, and Queens Park will be hoping for a better turn of fortunes with the fresh appointment of Ray McKinnon. They should be doing better than their current position, and clearly the board agree with the sacking of Mark Roberts. McKinnon to get a winning start at evens.
Stirling Albion are also worth a bet away to an unpredictable Albion Rovers side and at 9/5, they can complete an attractive 4 fold. 3 small stakes outsiders complete the line up.
For a detailed breakdown of the seasons performance so far, see here.
The bankers:
2 points – Raith Rovers @ evens
2 points – Queens Park @ evens
2 points – Clyde @ 19/20
2 points – Stirling Albion @ 9/5
The chancers:
0.5 points – Dumbarton @ 7/1
0.5 points – Forfar @ 5/1
0.2 points – Brechin @ 16/1